Water box lock



Jan. 4, 1966 F. HEcHT 3,227,183

WATER Box Loox Filed Feb. 14, 1963 INVENTOR United States Patent O3,227,183 WATER BOX LOCK Frank Hecht, Carteret, NJ. (1 Daniel St., PortReading, NJ.) Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 258,513 6 Claims. (Cl.13S-89) This invention relates generally to a manually operated lockingdevice for use within a pipe or similar structure and more particularlyit is embodied as a water box lock.

With regard to the use of this invention as a water box lock, it issignificant to mention that presently individuals can readily tamperwith `the valve inside their waterbox which controls the flow of waterfrom the main to their home. Prior art closures and locking devices 'arecharaclterized by their attempting to eliminate tampering with thewaterbox valve by providing locked covers for the pipe entrance to thevalve. The use of ordinary tools can be utilized to effect the removalof these closures and devices. The present invention consists ofimprovements in the means for preventing unwarranted removal of alocking device.

Therefore, one of the more import-ant objects of this invention is toprovide a locking device which cannot be operated with the use ofordinary tools, by virtue of its construction and its positioning withina pipe or similar structure.

Another object is to provide a locking device of relatively simpleconstruction, easily installed within a waterbox pipe at some distancefrom the entrance to the pipe, having its working parts unexposed.

A further object is to provide ya locking device, `that can be rigidlyfixed within a pipe,having a locking mechanism that can be readilyinstalled or removed from its stationary holding device to prevent orallow access to the water valve.

4Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon proceeding withthe description read in light of the yaccompanying drawings, in which isshown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention, whereinlike characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional assembly of the locking mechanism;

FIGURE -2 is a plan view of the locking mechanism in a locked positionin its holding device;

FIGURE 3 is a partially sectioned view of a wrench used to operate thelocking mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the unit main screw.

Referring now to the drawings, the head 1a of the unit main screw 1,shown by itself in FIGURE 4, 'rests on the upper flange 3a of the middleplate 3. The partially threaded shank of the unit main screw 1 passesthrough and is aligned by the central opening 3c of the middle plate 3.Washer 4, interposed between the upper and lower flanges of the middle`plate 3, in the internal opening 3d further aligns the unit mainscrew 1. Extending legs 5 lare pivotably attached to the lower flange 3bof plate 3, 'and are pulled towards one another by the leg spring 6.Internally threaded bottom plate 7, on the partially threaded shank ofthe unit main screw 1, `has two external slots 7a, through which theextending legs 5 pass. The inside faces of the extend-ing legs 5 areinclined with respect to the outer faces, and these inner faces restagainst the inclined backs of the external slots 7a in the bottom plate7. In the head 1a ofthe unit main screw 1 4are keyways 8, into which iitkeys 9, that are pulled towards one another within the contines of thehead 1a by a key spring 10. The top outer portion of the head shown tashead cap 2 is attached to the top of the unit main screw lCe 1 by screws(not shown). It is a matter of choice whether the head cap 2 is made anintegral part of the unit main screw 1 or whether, as described, it is aseparate part mechanically attached. The unit main screw can beconstructed in parts depending on fabrication techniques to be used, butthe independent parts taken together still form what has been describedas -a unit main screw.

t In FIGURE 2, the locking mechanism just described is shown in a lockedposition in its related holding device 12. The holding device 12 has atop plate 13 with eX- pandible side wall 14. Wedge plate 15 is held inplace by screws 1.6, which are supported from the top plate 13. The topplate 13 and wedge plate 15 each have center `openings of a size andshape required for the admittance `which has two keyway cut-outs 20 thatcoincide in position with the keyways '8 in the head 1a.

The method of operation of lthe previously described invention is asfollows: The holding device 12 is positioned within the pipe at aspecified distance from the pipe entrance. At the specified position,the holding screws 16 are tightened, forcing the Wedge plate 1'5 upwardsand by so doing the side wall 14 is expanded against the pipe w-all 11,thus rigidly fixing the holding device 12 Within the pipe. Thelockingmechanism in its unlocked position, as shown in FIGURE l, is nowfitted into the holding device with the upper flange 3a resting upon theheads of the holding screws 16. The wrench 17 is used,

`and .the external tube 19 is slid over the head 1a. The

wrench 17 is held so that the keyway cut-outs 2t) line up with thekeyways 8. While sliding the outer tube 19 of the wrench 17 over thehead 1a, the inner tube 15 enters the passageway, between the head cap 2yand the central portion of the head 1a, making contact with and pushingagainst the inside inclined faces of the keys 9, forcing the keys-outward along the keyways S and through the keyway cut-outs 2d. Thekeys 9, now partially protruding from the keyw-ays :8, provide grippingsurfaces for the -sides of the keyway cut-outs 2i)` in the outer tube19. The wrench 17, turned while in this position grips the outer partsof the keys 9 and turns the unit main screw 1. As the unit main screw 1turns, the bottom plate 7 moves upward on the shank, spreading thepivoted extending legs :5 resting in its external slots away from oneanother. After a number of turns of the unit main screw 1, the ends ofthe extending legs 5 will engage the wall of the center opening in thewedge plate 15, thereby locking the locking mechanism within .theholding device12. Upon removing the wrench, the keys 9, under the forceexerted by the key spring lil, return to their initial position, leavingno protruding surfaces on the head 1a. When it is desired to remove thelocking mechanism to gain access to the waterbox valve 4through theholding device 12, the unit main screw 1 would have to be turned in theopposite direction to disengage the locking mechanism.

The preceding description of the invention has shown it to be aneffective and relatively simple locking device that minimizes tamperingwith its own mechanism by its construction 4and positioning.

For the purpose of illustration, Ia single embodiment of the inventionhas been shown and described, but of course it should be understood thatit may assume numerous other forms than that shown.

Therefore, Without being limited to the exact embodiment shown, what Iclaim is:

1. A locking device having, in combination, a tubular structure; lockingmechanism means comprising .a rotatable unit main screw having a head,internal keyways and connecting passageway within said head of said unitmain screw, laterally movable key means within said keyways,

rst plate means supporting and positioning said head of said unit mainscrew on one side, extending legs pivotably attached to the other sideof said first plate, internally threaded second plate means withexternal slots receiving said extending legs, inclined backs of saidexternal slots adapted to spread said extending legs apart with upwardmotion of said second plate means, said screw threaded into said secondplate means; holding means iixed Within said tubular structure yabuttingsaid first plate means on one end thereof having the other end engagedby said extending legs to lock said locking mechanism within saidholding means.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable key means isdisposed in diametrically opposite keyways.

3. The combin-ation claimed in claim 2 wherein said movable key means isembodied as two keys operably attached to one another by a spring, witheach of said keys having an inclined end faced inward and upward towardthe central portion of said head.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said passageway formed betweenouter portion and said central portion of said head, is axially disposedwith respect to said screw.

5. The `combination claimed in claim 3 wherein said holding device meansis fixed within said tubular structure by a lthird wedge plate forcingthe side wall of said holding device against the wall of said tubularstructure.

`6. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein said Wedge plate isengaged by said extending legs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,497 7/1916Dauphinec 137-371 X 1,229,429 6/1917 Farley 137-371 1,281,438 `1O/191Tuttle 81-121.1 1,970,463' 8/1934 Mann 70--175 2,363,567 `11/1944Blakeman 70-168 X 2,844,021 7/1958 Bryant 70-175 2,895,362 7/1959Iamgotchian 81-905 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,166,276 6/ 1958 France.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Examiner.

M. BALAS, H. KLINKSIEK, Assistant Examiners.

1. A LOCKING DEVICE HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR STRUCTURE; LOCKINGMECHANISM MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE UNIT MAIN SCREW HAVING A HEAD,INTERNAL KEYWAYS AND CONNECTING PASSAGEWAY WITHIN SAID HEAD OF SAID UNITMAIN SCREW, LATERALLY MOVABLE KEY MEANS WITHIN SAID KEYWAYS, FIRST PLATEMEANS SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING SAID HEAD OF SAID UNIT MAIN SCREW ONONE SIDE, EXTENDING LEGS PIVOTABLY ATTACHED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAIDFIRST PLATE, INTERNALLY THREADED SECOND PLATE MEANS WITH EXTERNAL SLOTSRECEIVING SAID EXTENDING LEGS, INCLINED BACKS OF SAID EXTERNAL SLOTSADAPTED TO SPREAD SAID EXTENDING LEGS APART WITH UPWARD MOTION OF SAIDSECOND PLATE MEANS, SAID SCREW THREADED INTO SAID SECOND PLATE MEANS;HOLDING MEANS FIXED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE ABUTING SAID FIRSTPLATE MEANS ON ONE END THEREOF HAVING THE OTHER END ENGAGED BY SAIDEXTENDING LEGS TO LOCK SAID LOCKING MECHANISM WITHIN SAID HOLDING MEANS.